The Korea Herald

Ways to keep phone charges low during international travel

Dec 8, 2016

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) -- It's a sure-fire way to dampen the holiday cheers: Spend a week on a dream vacation abroad, then come back to find an additional several hundred dollars on your cellphone bill.Although some US phone plans cover international travel, especially to Canada and Mexico, many don’t. Leaving your phone off isn't practical these days. But you don’t have to pay a fortune if you follow these tips. You might find some of these steps annoying, but they're surely less painful than an
New SR railway company to launch super rapid trains

Dec 5, 2016

On a small peninsula just over 100,000 square kilometers in area, Korea’s vastly extensive railways have made domestic flying a virtually unnecessary expense and hassle. 　Since 2005, the country’s railways have been dominated by Korail, which has been running competition-free over the past decade. However, all that is set to change on Dec. 9.　On Friday, travelers will find themselves with an alternative option, as Korea welcomes its newest contender to railway and bullet train travel -- SR. An
Busan, magnet for MICE industry

Dec 4, 2016

BUSAN -- Korea’s second-largest city and a major maritime hub, Busan is harnessing its capacities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, known as the MICE industry. Scores of convention centers, hotels, tourism attractions and cruise terminals are being built or renewed to make way for Asia’s top commercial port with 2020 in sight.Strewn with mesmeric beaches, cultural amenities, efficient infrastructure and telecommunications lines, Busan has all the ingredients necessary to att
[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Dec 2, 2016

Everland Romantic IlluminationsEverland’s Romantic Illumination festival is continuing its celebrations until March 1 with beautiful and enchanting illuminations for a romantic and memorable holiday season.The festival will feature an extravagant 26-meter-high Romantic Tower Tree, which will be displayed at the fountain area between Four Seasons Garden and Rose Garden. The hollowed out Christmas tree tower can accommodate up to 50 people.The tree’s interior showers the visitors with enchanting l
Christmas destinations that even Scrooge would love

Dec 2, 2016

If this is the year that you decide you’ve had it with untangling Christmas lights, fighting mall crowds to find that “must-have” action figure or video game, and fighting over whose turn it is to host the holiday dinner, there is an alternative.At all of the following destinations, the lights will already be on the tree; the holiday dinner will be handled by a renowned chef and the angry, shoving mall crowds will be replaced by like-minded guests who have one thing in common — a desire for a ha
Busan recognized as top incentive tourism destination

Dec 1, 2016

As Korea’s second-largest city, Busan boasts a wide array of unique cultural experiences, from hosting the largest international film festival in Asia to offering fresh local seafood. However, in addition to being a popular place to vacation, the port city is now recognized as a leading incentive tour destination for travel related to meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.In fact, as a result of the city’s proactive marketing efforts, 12 medium-sized to large companies have visited B
How to see Chichen Itza without the crowds

Nov 25, 2016

Sounds of the jungle were as thick as the humidity. Birds chirped and trilled. A deep hoot added a bass note. An almost mechanical staccato clicking joined in. I was following a Mayan guide, Juan Gualberto Tun Pat, down a garden path on the grounds of my hotel, where life is so insistent that young trees sprout in the middle of the gravel walkway.At a wrought iron gate, two guys sat at a weathered Formica-topped table, the young one working on math problems, the older one tuning a radio. They pa
[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Nov 25, 2016

Lotte World Christmas MiracleLotte World is gearing up to play host to its annual Christmas Festival every day until Dec. 27. This year’s festival will tackle the theme of “A White Christmas,” allowing visitors the chance to see spectacular Christmas decorations at every corner of the theme park. The park will also feature a Santa Village and a snowman photo zone for the children.There will also be a special snowfall show twice a day at the Adventure Park and during the new Christmas Parade. The
Korea introduces 'premium' express bus for long-distance trips

Nov 25, 2016

South Korea on Friday launched a new premium express bus service with nearly flat seats that will provide long distance travelers with first-class comfort and experience.The new premium bus has 21 passenger seats, instead of 28 in previous premium models, allowing each seat to recline up to 160 degrees, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.Each seat is also equipped with a personal display monitor, providing various content from movies and TV programs to music and game
Number of travelers to S. Korea hits record high in Jan-Oct

Nov 21, 2016

The number of foreign travelers to South Korea in the first 10 months of this year jumped 33.1 percent from a year ago, breaking the previous record high in 2014, the state-run tourism agency said Monday. A total of 14.59 million foreigners visited the nation in the January-October period, already outnumbering the annual record of 14.2 million in 2014, the Korea Tourism Organization said. The number of incoming Chinese travelers soared 40 percent on-year over the period to account for 48 percent
[Travel Bits] Sights to see in Korea

Nov 18, 2016

Lotte World Christmas MiracleLotte World is gearing up to play host to its annual Christmas Festival every day until Dec. 27. This year’s festival will tackle the theme of “A White Christmas,” allowing visitors the chance to see spectacular Christmas decorations at every corner of the theme park. The park will also feature a Santa Village and a snowman photo zone for the children.There will also be a special snowfall show twice a day at the Adventure Park and during the new Christmas Parade. The
Wonderful Waikiki: 5 ideas for millennials, 5 ideas for boomers

Nov 18, 2016

HONOLULU — If you consider yourself a traveler rather than a tourist, you might tend to avoid Waikiki Beach. It’s too commercial. Overcrowded. Too much of a South Seas cliche.But if you’ve been there you know there’s lots to love about the crazy scene: the platoons of newbie surfers dodging catamarans and outrigger canoes. The beach bars. The perfect sandy beach, with visitors from around the world playing beneath windblown palms in the shadow of distinctive Diamond Head.It’s fun for young and o
[Weekender] From Grandma’s home to store shelves, Boksoondoga makgeolli goes global

Nov 11, 2016

Architect Kim Min-kyu returns home, applies ‘fermentation architecture’ thesis to expand family business
[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Nov 11, 2016

Bangeo Festival on JejudoThe annual Bangeo Festival returns to Moseulpo Port this month. This popular festival is held every year in November on the southern island of Jejudo. It celebrates the yellowtail fish, which is a prized seasonal delicacy of the area. Visitors can try fishing for yellowtail as well as sample other Jejudo specialties such as grilled black pig and galchi jorim (spicy braised white fish). Festival participants can not only enjoy fresh bangeo at the festival, but can also pa
Flee crowded San Francisco for the serenity of Point Reyes

Nov 11, 2016

POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, California -- You’re in San Francisco and need a break from clanging cable cars and overpriced hotels? Break for the beach. Point Reyes is an hour and a world away.Before leaving home, sign up for a plein air pastel workshop with an overnight stay in a historic former Coast Guard lifeboat station hanging over the azure bay where Sir Francis Drake anchored in 1579. It’s just one of dozens of regular offerings by the park’s Field Institute. Awake to sea lions barking